San Diego, CA

When Marcus Housely received news of death of Curtis and Melanie Phillips, his world came to a virtual halt. How would he explain to his wife, Betty, and children that their best friends were gone? They had plans to take a combined family vacation to Hawaii. It would have been Marcus and Curtis' first real vacation in years and their wives were looking forward to two weeks having fun in the sun. Curtis and Marcus were looking forward to seeing Steve McGarrett and having a long overdue 'family' discussion.

H50-H50

Marcus had known Curtis since they were boys growing up in Rhode Island. When Curtis turned seventeen, he left for the Naval Academy in Annapolis and Marcus went to Harvard.

During his first summer break, Marcus went back to Rhode Island, he was pleasantly surprised to see Curtis, and they hadn't seen each other in nearly a year. Curtis brought along a friend from Annapolis and that was how Marcus met Steve McGarrett.

From that first meeting, Marcus and Steve got along great. Curtis was relieved and very happy. The three became quite close, often exchanging e-mails, phone calls and visits when Curtis and Steve were free.

The trio drifted somewhat. Curtis and Steve were both in Naval Intelligence, but after five years, Steve entered SEAL training. Marcus went on to law school, but they still managed to keep in touch a few times a year, visits were few and far between.

Years went by – Marcus became a lawyer, got married and moved to San Diego to take over his father in law's law practice. Steve and Curtis continued with the Navy, as SEAL, Steve's path often crossed with Curtis and they worked together on missions. Curtis eventually married, was transferred to San Diego and decided that he wanted to go into law enforcement so he later transferred to the Reserves and became a police officer.

During one of the last times that Steve, Marcus and Curtis were together, they were in San Diego. It was 2008 and Steve was in town doing some training in between missions. It was almost like old times when the three men were together. Laughing and joking about summers spent in Rhode Island when they were younger and Steve telling what he could about some of his missions.

One evening, Curtis mentioned that he and Melanie wanted to start a family, but due to an illness he had when he was younger, it all but eliminated his chances of being a biological father. Marcus would have offered, but after four children, he got a vasectomy. Curtis then asked Steve. Steve said he would think about it and let him know before he went on his next mission.

Six months before Steve was depart for his mission he agreed to help Curtis and Melanie. They made arrangements and soon Steve was flying from Annapolis to San Diego to have a sperm count test done. The following month, Steve found out that he was good to give his donation and they set up another date for the next step.

Three months before his mission, he flew back to San Diego to give his donation. In early 2009 Steve heard from Curtis, they just had their first try, but it wasn't successful. They had two more tries and then they would be out of money. Steve wished them luck and left for his mission. In early 2010, Steve received another call from Curtis with news of another failed conception.

Steve missed the call in early 2011 that would have told of the successful pregnancy and eventual due date. Curtis and Melanie would have liked for Steve to have been there. To introduce him to his "niece" or "nephew" – they wanted to be surprised. Instead, in November Steve got a call from an attorney representing Curtis and Melanie.

Marcus dreaded the phone call he'd have to make to Steve to tell him of their friends' death. He didn't know when Steve and Curtis last spoke with each other, so he was unsure of how much information he should give over the phone and how much should be said in person.

In the end, Marcus opted to tell it all in person. Some things are better done face to face. He made a few calls and found out that Steve was back in Hawaii heading up a special taskforce for the Governor. Marcus wasn't able to get a direct number for Steve, but he was able to get his office number.

He calculated the time difference between San Diego and Hawaii before making the call to Steve. While he wasn't able to speak with Steve, he was able to leave a message and then planned for his trip to tell Steve the news in person.

Honolulu, HI

Steve and Danny entered Five-0 Headquarters laughing and bickering about Steve's latest attempts at hostile witness questioning, when Kono called out for Steve.

"Boss, you have messages." She waved a couple of papers at him.

Steve made a detour to her office, grabbed the slips of papers and thanked her before going to his office.

"What's this?" Danny questioned. "We have a secretary now?"

Steve flipped through the slips of paper and laughed. "Better not let her hear you say that." As he looked at the notes, the other two sheets, a message from Mary when she couldn't reach him on his cell and the other from a contractor leaving estimates for some repairs he wanted done to the house, floated to his desk, leaving the one in his hand. The color drained from Steve's face as he read, and re-read the note. He was lucky his chair was already out and waiting to be sat in, as he landed on it with a whoosh of air escaping it.

"Is everything okay, Babe?" Danny questioned. When Steve didn't reply, Danny reached out a hand and lightly touched Steve's arm. "Steve?"

Steve came to and looked at Danny. "I, uh, have to make a call."

Danny looked at him and nodded his head. "I'll leave you to it." He paused. "Is everything okay?"

Steve gave what he hoped was a convincing smile and wouldn't betray the unease he was feeling. "Everything's fine," he picked up the phone hoping Danny would leave soon and began to dial the number written on the paper.

Danny left Steve's office and on the third ring, the line connected.

"Housely, man, I got your message," Steve said. "What's the emergency with Curt and Mel?"

"Steve, it's not good. Not good at all," Marcus replied. "I'm going to be in town tomorrow afternoon, do you think we can meet up?"

"Yeah, sure, brah," Steve said. He paused. "What about Curt and Mel?"

"I'd rather tell you in person. There's a lot that's happened," Marcus pinched the bridge of his nose. "When was the last time you talked to Curt?"

"Had to have been the beginning of last year," Steve said. "It was right before a mission and I was gone most of the year until my father was murdered…," he paused and let out a breath before continuing on. "There was just a shit storm of stuff after that."

"Oh man. Stevie I'm sorry to hear about that. I hope you caught the bastard who killed him." Marcus said. He knew Steve wouldn't stop until he got to the bottom of it and that would explain why Steve hadn't been seen or heard of in so long.

"Getting them one by one," Steve said.

"That's good. That's real good," Marcus said. "I have to finish finalizing my travel plans, but I'll be in Honolulu sometime tomorrow afternoon. I'll call and give you the final details and we can meet up."

"Yeah, say hello to everyone for me," Steve commented.

"Will do," Marcus said. They said their goodbyes and hung up.

Marcus had every intention of at least telling Steve what happened to Curtis and Melanie the previous week but he just couldn't do it. He had to tell him in person.

The following afternoon, Steve told Danny, Kono, Chin and Lori that he'd be talking off early to handle some personal business. Steve had to assure them several times that it wasn't Navy business. Everyone but Danny seemed to be okay with the explanation. Danny hung around a bit and waited until they were alone in Steve's office.

"If it isn't Navy business, then what is it?" Danny asked.

Steve faced Danny and he could see the pain in his eyes. "I promise I'll tell you everything later."

Danny was about to badger Steve more when Lori called out his name and said the witness they needed to interview for a case they'd been working on for the last ten days just showed up at the docks.

Danny sighed and looked at Steve. "Later?"

Steve nodded his head and Danny walked out of Steve's office to go with Lori.

Around four p.m. Steve pulled his truck into the visitor parking of the Hyatt Place near Waikiki Beach. Steve and Marcus made plans to meet in the lounge for drinks and to talk. The previous night, Steve was rather restless. He knew that Marcus had to tell him something having to do with Curtis and Melanie and that it was an emergency, but for some reason couldn't, or wouldn't say over the phone. Scenario after scenario went through Steve's mind and he hated even more that he hadn't made more of an effort to keep in touch with them.

H50-H50

Steve and Marcus arrived at the hotel's lounge at the same time – Marcus from the elevator and Steve from the side entrance. They embraced as brothers who hadn't seen each other in years and headed to a table near the back of the room.

"It's good to see you House!" Steve said. They pulled out their chairs and sat down.

"Good to see you too McGarrett," Marcus replied. There's a smile on his lips and it slightly slid from his face. "I just wish it was under better circumstances."

Steve nodded his head and is about to ask the question that's been burning in him since the previous afternoon, when a waitress comes to take their drink order. Steve ordered a Longboard and Marcus ordered a whiskey and soda. The waitress returns shortly with their drinks.

Marcus is determined to make small talk before getting to the point of his visit, but he can tell that Steve is anxious to know what's going on with Curtis and Melanie. He waits a beat before starting off slowly and speaking a bit softly.

"Last weekend, Curt and Mel were killed in a car accident," Marcus said. Steve nearly drops the bottle he had in his hand but Marcus quickly reaches for it and places it on the table in front of him.

"Oh, fuck," Steve sighs. "What happened?"

"They were driving up to LA to visit with Curt's half sister. They got to Oceanside and decided to have lunch. You know how Curt is. He has regular check in when he and Mel go out of town for any length of time. Stephanie and Josie were fussy – I heard them crying up a storm. Curt said they were going to grab a bite and continue on," Marcus pauses and takes a sip of his drink. "About an hour later I get a call from a number I don't recognize. It's CHP and they're asking if I knew a Curtis Phillips. Not know, but knew." Marcus pauses again and shakes head a bit.

Steve reaches out and places a comforting hand on Marcus' arm. For all that Curtis and Steve were close, Marcus knew Curtis since they were young boys back on the East Coast. They were like brothers.

Marcus gather's his thoughts before continuing on. "The officer tells me that some guy ran a red light and hit Curt on the driver side with enough force that the car spun and crashed on the passenger side against a light pole." Marcus takes a shaky breath. "They asked how soon I could get to the hospital where they were. Betty and I dropped the kids off with her friend and we get to the hospital in about an hour. The whole time we're there waiting for a doctor or someone to tell us anything, all I could think of was 'what happened to Stephanie and Josie?' Finally a doctor was able to tell me something and let Betty check on the girls."

Steve had his eyes closed while Marcus was telling him everything and he could picture it all in vivid detail. He was quiet for a moment before speaking. "Who are Stephanie and Josie?"

Marcus sucked in a breath, ran a shaky hand through his hair before looking at Steve. "Stephanie and Josie are Curt and Mel's five month old daughters. I thought you knew."

Steve slumped forward, his elbow resting on his thigh and head resting in his hand. He spoke softly, "I had no idea they tried a third time. The last time I spoke with them was after the second try and Curt told me it wasn't successful."

Marcus reached in his pocket, pulled out his phone, pressed a few buttons and brought up the most recent picture of the babies to show to Steve. "They were born this past June. Curt said he tried calling you but Mary said some stuff had gone down and you'd be out of contact for a while."

Steve nodded his head as he looked at the pictures. "I got myself into a bit of trouble. My old CO had to come and help me out. I wasn't in a good place."

"Stephanie is on the left and Josie is on the right," Marcus pointed to each girl.

The girls were wearing pink pants with black tops with a rather large pink daisy attached to it. Stephanie, on the left, had a large white flower headband and Josie, on the right, had a large pink flower headband.

"I know this is a lot for you to take in at one sitting," Marcus said. "There's still a lot more I need to tell you. A lot more we have to talk about." Marcus took his phone back and pressed another series of keys and sent the picture to Steve. "I sent you the picture."

Steve looked at Marcus. "What else?"

"Curt and Melanie named me executor of their will. On top of that, they made me swear that if anything happened to them, I'd take care of the girls until I could find and talk to you."

Steve took an uneasy drink of his now warn beer. "What?"

"They want you to have your daughters." Marcus said. "You don't have to make a decision now. If you can get the time off, the funeral is at the end of next week. Come to San Diego, meet your daughters, get reacquainted with my kids and Betty, they really miss you by the way."

Steve numbly nods his head. "I can get the time off. Will you need help with anything else?"

Marcus pats Steve's arm. "Don't worry about that. Everything's been taken care of. The officers and wives of the station he worked at have been real helpful. Plus the Navy is doing their thing as well. You know Curt. He had everything planned out. Updated his will the day the girls were born."